I have to follow Christian around all day and pretend like watching him flirt with girls doesn't make me cringe. No offense to Christian, he's nice and not unattractive, but the way he flirts is just....terrible. It's like watching a car crash happen very, very slowly. 

He had really thought he was impressing this girl earlier. He was smirking and leaning against the tree while the girl laughed. He thought he was making her laugh with just how funny is he, but in reality, she was laughing because he had a huge fruit seed stuck between his teeth. 

Miles had to go and do the job that my dad messed up, and it made me feel sort of sick knowing that I was in close proximity to my dad. I felt like I was always looking over my shoulder, making sure he wasn't there. But I trusted Miles. I knew he wouldn't let my Dad lay a hand on me if he tried. I had always wanted that feeling of safety, and I had always thought it would come in the form of a sweet boy I met while taking an elevator at work. But instead, I found safety in Miles DiCaprio and his blood-stained hands.

I'm in Portugal, I'm across the world with a killer that gives me butterflies like we're teenagers. I always stare at him and his black hair and silvery jewelry, and I find security in it. 

Miles told me he would pay for me to go to college anywhere in the world. Something he didn't have to do, and it's something that would make me feel so guilty about. He earned that money, not me. But I still let my thoughts wander. I could escape my Dad and go to college in the Bahamas and end every night on the beach. But if I do that, I probably would never see Miles again.

"Everything okay?" Christian suddenly asks me, making me leave my thoughts and lift my head up.

We were sitting at an outdoor restaurant, eating lunch. We were right by the ocean so the breeze was cool and the sun was bright, equally each other out to create the perfect temperature. The saltiness in the air from the water made me feel like I was in paradise, but I was letting my own thoughts drag me down.

I confessed while setting my fork down and putting my hands in my lap, "Just thinking about my dad."

"Yea. Miles has told me you two don't have a good relationship. You want to talk about it?" he asks.

I looked over to the waves crashing onto the ocean. This place is so beautiful, yet I'm letting myself get upset over my own mind. I watch the birds that fly over the sand without a care in the world, and I wished that I was feeling that same way. I shook my head, "No. Tell me more about that girl you were just talking about."

He went on to tell me about how a girl he saw at the beach this morning was the love of his life and he'll never be okay until he sees her again and can talk to her. After his 20 minutes of love confessing, he asked casually, "Wanna go swim?"

"Sure," I smiled, standing up from my chair since we had already paid for the food. Miles left his card for me. 

While heading back to the hotel, I began to worry about Miles. I know he's fine, and I probably have no reason to, but I just do. I don't know how dangerous whatever he's doing is, but I want him to be okay. I wished he were here with us right now, drinking those tropical drinks that I'll remember forever. 

I changed into my bathing suit before heading to the beach with Christian. He winked at every girl we passed, making me roll my eyes. I asked him, "What happened to the love of your life?"

"You can have multiple, Liss," he says.

I laughed, shaking my head in disagreement. I believe that everybody in this world has one soulmate. While there are many people you are capable of loving, there will always be that one person that's your soulmate. Even if you never meet them. 

We walked along the hot sand before laying some towels out. We walked towards the water, it being a little cold at first as I stepped into the shallow part. This was my first time being in the ocean. I wasn't afraid of the animals that lived here, it was their home, I know the risks by entering it. 

As we got further and further into the water, I slowly got used to the temperature. The goosebumps came off of my skin and it started to feel refreshing - not cold. The waves weren't too large, and I heard them crash against the shore behind me. 

Christian splashed me with water while laughing, making my jaw drop and splash him back. 

"You ass!" I insulted him, treading the clear water.

He laughed, swimming to be closer to me. He looked at me, the sun making his eyes look like honey. He suddenly looked a little serious instead of sarcastic and said, "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," I replied. 

"Is there something going on between you and Miles?" he asks. 

His question surprised me, making my lips part slightly. I wasn't prepared to be asked that. Miles and I aren't dating, and we probably never will. But that doesn't stop my heart from beating faster around him, and butterflies fill my stomach whenever I see his face. We aren't together, we both know we shouldn't be. We're just too different, and we come from opposite worlds. We should never be together, yet I still think about what it would be like to myself, late at night.

"We've kissed," I confessed. "But I don't think anything will come of it. We're opposites, you know?"

He looked shocked at my words, but I didn't understand why. He finally says, "Wow. Miles has never kissed anybody for all of the years I've known him."

"Not even Charolette?"

"Fuck no. Miles doesn't really like Charlotte, but she's the dons daughter and gives him several hits so he has to be civil. Charlotte clearly has feelings for him, but Miles has never felt the same."

His words made a smile form on my face, but I quickly bit my lip to hide it. I wanted to change the subject, so I splashed him again. He started swimming quickly towards me so I turned around while laughing, trying to swim as fast to the sand as I could.

But Christian was faster than me and picked me up, tossing me back into the water. I came up to the surface, rubbing my eyes for a second before giving him a forced glare.

He smiled at me, "Now we're even."

╚══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╝

M I L E S

This was the fucking job Lincoln couldn't do?

I stared at the dead body in front of me, his eyes wide open and blood dripping down his forehead still. I shut his eyes, taking a picture and sending it to the don.

Before I could even leave the building, the don started to call me. I picked it up and he spoke, "Good job. I've transferred the money and now Lincoln can come out of hiding."

"Can you wait to tell him that until I'm back in America?" I asked.

I didn't want there to be any chance of him seeing Alissa. I don't like the thought of him being near her, it's a gut instinct. 

The don replied, "I guess. I talked to him earlier, he doesn't seem to be much of a fan of his daughter."

"I've gathered that," I replied dryly.

"Kept talking about how in just a few weeks, she's gonna be out of his life. Do you know what the fuck that idiot was on about? The sound of his voice bores me, so I couldn't be bothered to ask why," he asks me. 

"I don't know. But I'm gonna find out," I said out loud as if I were making a promise. And maybe I was because I was gonna figure out what he's planning. Nothing is happening to Alissa, not while I'm alive, not while I'm with her. 

I hung up, walking out of the casino and getting back into my car. My heart felt warm as I imagined Alissa waiting for me back at the hotel. A woman actually excited to see me, that was something that almost never happened. 

Hopefully, she's had fun during the day, but we're going to go out and do something tonight. Since we're going back to New York tomorrow, I want to make this trip memorable for her. Something she won't forget once she goes off to college, wherever it is that she decides to go. 

Once I entered the hotel room, I saw her laying on her stomach, watching something on the TV. She had the balcony door open, so the wind blew her damp hair. Her skin was tanned and her cheeks were slightly red with a sunburn. Her face lit up seeing me, and she jumped off of the bed, "Finally! I was getting scared that you died or something."

She was worried about me. Alissa Gomez, sunshine in human form, was worried about me. 

"Don't worry, Alissa. I'll never get killed," I told her. "Did you go swimming?"

"Yea! I went to the beach with Christian. He's still out there flirting with girls, but I got tired so I came back here," she tells me. 

I nodded. That didn't surprise me, but I was glad that they were having fun while I was gone. 

I looked at the clock above our bed - seeing that it was now 5:30 pm. Fuck, I should've texted her to go and eat dinner and not wait for me, she's probably hungry. I asked her, "Are you hungry?"

"Sorta. Are you?" she replied, and I nodded my head. I honestly wasn't hungry, but I wanted her to eat.

I told her we could go out to a restaurant after I got changed and took a shower, my hair messed up from the owner of the casino putting up a bit of a fight. After I took my shower and changed, she was waiting for me by the front door. 

We headed down the elevator and walked outside. The sun was starting to set, a glow from the sunset shining down onto us. I grabbed her hand with mine, intertwining our fingers. It was like my body did it without thinking - but she held my hand back. We were in a different country, surrounded by people. I needed her to be close to me in case anything happened, and holding onto her was the best way. She moves her fingers, wrapping her hand around my middle and index finger while we walked. 

As we walked down the sidewalk I asked her, "What do you want to go to college for?"

"I want to go to medical school, but I know I'm not smart enough," she says. "I just wanted a career where I could help people."

Her words made my eyebrows lower, and I said, "You're smart, Alissa. Don't doubt yourself."

A smile formed on her lips and she said quietly as if it meant the world to her, "Thank you."

"Where do you want to go to college?"

"I want to be somewhere away from my father. A different state, preferably a warm one. I love New York, but the weather in the winter is freezing," she shared, and I tried my best to hide my disappointment. 

A different state.

But I nodded, "So where are you thinking?"

"Maybe Florida."

That's pretty fucking far away.

We got to the restaurant, the smell of grilled food filling the air. A hostess walked us over to a table by the window, a view of a garden beside us. She looked at it and smiled, "I love nature. I love flowers. Maybe I should just own a flower shop instead of going to college."

"You'd like to own a flower shop?" I asked her. Seeing the twinkle in her eye when she was saying it out loud showed me that it was something she'd enjoy. And I would gladly buy a place for her to do that. All my life, I had only spent my money on myself. Cars, clothes, additions to my house. But all of that seemed so meaningless now. 

"Maybe. I don't know. I feel like I would, but I've never actually done it. I just love flowers."

"And what's your favorite flower?"

"Pink tulips. Seraphina got me some on the day we graduated high school. They were so gorgeous, but I haven't gotten them again since. Once I live in my own house, I'm going to constantly have some in my kitchen," she smiled.

I asked her, "Why haven't you gotten them since?"

She looked hesitant to answer, but then she did anyways, "I think if I got them, my dad would throw them out to upset me. He likes to do that, when I was a kid he threw my favorite stuffed animal out just to make me upset."

I felt murderous. I imagined how good her father would look dead. The way he has treated her is disgusting, yet she's still so positive all the time. It's admirable.

Her mentioning her father reminded me of what the don said to me earlier. Maybe she would know what her father means. 

"Your father has mentioned getting rid of you once he's back. Do you know what he means by that?" I ask her. 

It looked like my words made her feel cold for a moment. Yet she didn't look surprised, as if that seems like something he'd say. She told me, "Honestly? He probably means he's gonna kill me. He has told me many times before that he wishes I was dead."

My jaw clenched and I looked away for a moment, trying to calm down. She continued, "I think he wants to kill me, but if he does then he loses who he can take his anger out on. Both physically and verbally."

I met her eyes again. I looked down at the cup in front of me, being able to see my reflection in it. And for the first time, I could see the brown in my eyes. They weren't empty. 

My fingertips grazed her ear as I put some of her hair behind it. I whispered, "I promise you I'll never let you near that monster ever again, okay?"

And it was a fucking promise. He will never go near her again, he will never touch her again. Once he's back in America, and I no longer owe him anything, I will help Alissa escape him. Whether that's going to college or working somewhere, I will help her get away from him.

I realized at this moment just how many emotions I've felt for the first time in years since Alissa came here. Before she came, it was like I was numb.

She's starting to make me feel again. She's starting to make me human again.

I've begun to find humanity in the blonde girl in front of me.

Word Count: 2544